Fresno City College appoints new president to lead California’s first community college

Robert Pimentel was appointed Tuesday by State Center Community College District trustees as the new president of Fresno City College.

Pimentel is Fresno City’s Vice President of Educational Services and Institutional Effectiveness and has been at the community college since 2018.

“I really don’t know what to say right now,” Pimentel said after the vote, “but all I can say is thank you, and I look forward to working with all of you and continuing the work that Dr. Goldsmith left behind.”

Pimentel’s appointment comes after Carole Goldsmith took the position of chancellor for the district.

Goldsmith recommended Pimentel to the board after a months-long search that included many well-qualified, diverse candidates, she said.

“From this highly qualified pool, I was challenged to make a very difficult choice to select one candidate who I’m recommending to tonight,” she said Tuesday. “Dr. Robert Pimentel is a collaborative leader, a thoughtful listener, whose values and vision mirrors the college and our district. Over the years, he has demonstrated his commitment to a culture of anti-racism, where respect and inquiry is valued. He’s worked to foster student success as well as improve economic, social, and cultural development of our students.”

Pimentel is a first-generation college student who transferred from West Hills College Coalinga to Fresno State, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in social work. His master’s degree in social work with an emphasis on mental health is from CSU Bakersfield, and his doctorate in educational leadership, higher education, is from Fresno State.

Before beginning his work at Fresno City College in 2018, he worked in leadership positions at West Hills for 11 years and as a classified staff member for more than six years.

As president of California’s oldest community college, he will earn $227,007 a year, according to a copy of his contract.

Goldsmith was at $248,177 a year before she was appointed chancellor. Pimentel will start the position on July 1, replacing interim president Marlon Hall. His initial contract is good for three years.

This story was originally published May 3, 2022 at 5:54 PM.